EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES New cohort in El Dorado, Ark., creates satellite campus for the MBA program H arding was known as a community of mission as well as a community of education. The university community included more than just one campus in Searcy, Ark.; it included campuses across the world in places such as England, Italy and Greece. However, not all of the satellite campuses were in such distant locations. Harding hosted occasional cohorts in El Dorado, Ark., allowing students to meet there to obtain their Master's of Business Administration. "A cohort is a group of students who will ultimately go through the program together," Dr. Glen Metheny, director of the El Dorado program, said. "They all begin and finish the classes together." This type of program was designed for students who worked full time but were still dedicated to pursuing further education. The students met in the evenings once a week, so that it would interfere with careers and family life as little as possible. Students finished the program in two years, going through the entire process with the same group of peers. Dr. Bryan Burks, Dean of the College of Business of Administration, was positive about the work being done by students in El Dorado. "They are busy with their careers, dedicated to their studies, and motivated to make a difference," Burks said. "The learning comes not only from the text, cases and the teacher, but also from their own shared experiences as applied to the courses in the program." 2013 marked the beginning of Harding's third El Dorado cohort. The first began in 2007, and the second began in 2008, causing the programs to overlap for a year. Both of those programs graduated on time, providing about 30 students with their MBAs. "We decided to wait afew years until beginning our third cohort," Metheny said. "With the extra time and planning, this one was a great success." COBA Professor Dr. Rich Brown taught a marketing course for the El Dorado cohort. Brown said he enjoyed having experienced students, because they provided for better discussion-based classes. Most of the students had very relevant experience to add to conversation. According to Brown, that was the way graduate education was made to work: everyone learning from one another. While El Dorado was a nearly three-hour commute from Harding's primary campus, the professors who taught the cohort still appreciated the experience. "I really enjoy teaching down there,'' Brown said. "It is a long drive down, and it makes scheduling class and office hours on campus more difficult, but it is worth it." Whether it was faculty or students, everyone involved in the program came away impressed. Metheny expressed the value of the program and his hope for future successes. "We have just really been blessed and honored to be able to offer this cohort in El Dorado,'' Metheny said. "The students who have gone through our program have been top notch. They are eager to learn and because of their diverse backgrourids and experiences they are able to engage in rich discussions that add so much value to the learning experience. It is our hope that we can continue offering the program for years to come." Landis Tindell/JP Baker 167 MILES AWAY 2 classes per 14 cohort semester students two year graduate program
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